Bamboo-based porous carbon materials (PCM) were preparated by chemical activation method with KOH as porogen.Then the synergistic flame retardant effect and mechanism of PCM/ammonium polyphosphate (APP) in epoxy resin (EP) were investigated.The surface performance

microstructure and chemical structure were characterized by physical adsorption (BET method)

scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) respectively; fire behaviors of the flame-retardant EP were studied by the limit oxygen index (LOI)

UL 94 vertical burning test and cone calorimetry.The results showed that the specific surface area

pore volume and pore diameter of PCM (PCM6) were 2063 m2/g

0.9 cm3/g and 1.8 nm respectively

the particle size was 1~5 m

the active groups such as CC

CO

C=O and COO were detected on the surface of PCM6; for formulations containing APP (3.1 wt%) and PCM (0.8 wt%)

the LOI value was significantly increased from 24.6% to 27.3%

the peak heat release rate decreased by 45.4%

compared to pure EP

the time to ignition of the flame-retardant EP was prolonged by 10% than EP/3.1APP.Moreover

thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and XPS study indicate that PCM6 can improve the thermal stability of the flame-retardant EP

catalyze the thermal degradation of APP to release NH3 and H2O

accelerate the cross-linking and char formation and promote the formation of pyrophosphate during the thermal degradation.The synergistic flame retardant effect and mechanism of PCM and APP in flame-retardant EP were revealed.